Rubio can’t pick 1 early voting state

DES MOINES, Iowa — With a nationally focused campaign that leans on strong debate performances and television advertising, Marco Rubio isn’t going all out in any one of the early voting states.

That’s raised eyebrows among Republicans in states such as Iowa, where people are used to attention in a presidential campaign.

As 2015 wanes, the Florida senator returned to Iowa on Tuesday for a multiday swing, hoping to shore up support and finish among the top candidates in the Feb. 1 caucuses.

But he continues to spread his time and money across the early states, showing no indication he will choose just one to make his mark.

That’s unlike Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who has set his sights on Iowa, and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who is pushing hard in New Hampshire.

While supporters say Rubio just needs to stay in the top cluster in the first few states, some see his approach as risky.

“The caucuses are about organize, organize, organize and get hot at the end,” said Iowa Republican strategist Doug Gross, who has not endorsed a candidate. But as for Rubio and his people, “I think they’ve intentionally tried to run a different campaign.”

In another early voting state, South Carolina, former Republican Party chair Karen Floyd described Rubio’s approach as “curious,” saying his organization there has not been as visible as several of his rivals.

But it is risky to be seen as having to win a particular state a month before the voting, said Rubio spokesman Alex Conant. “We see four states where Marco can succeed,” Conant said, referring to the four earliest ones — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

In Iowa, recent polls have found Cruz and Donald Trump battling for first place, with Rubio usually a distant third. He’s seen as competing most directly with others considered part of the GOP establishment — Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.